Sleeping attachment for cars.



LA. SHIRES.. SLEEPING ATTAUHMENT FOB CABS.

urmonmn FILED Mn 6, 1901.

- Patented Dec. 8, 1908. 2 sinus-summ- 1 Wi-tuameo rue NORRIS PETERS c0, WASHINGTON. n. c

JOSEPH A. SHIRES, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SLEEPING ATTACHMENT FOR, CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed. May 6, 1907. Serial No. 371,975.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. SHIRES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleeping Attachments for Cars; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying' drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a sleeping attachment for cars whereby ordinary day coaches by a slight alteration in their construction may be converted into sleeping cars having both upper and lower berths.

It is not intended that the same privacy shall be enjoyed in my improved construe tion, as can be attained by the regular Pullman system; my improved construction being more especially intended to enable passengers who now ride in the ordinary day coaches, to have the benefit of a construction which will enable them to sleep comfortably, which is impracticable in the ordinary day coaches or even in the chair cars as at present constructed.

In my improved construction the backs of the seats when thrown to the horizontal posi tion are interlocked, forming a continuous, horizontal support or platform constituting the upper berths, a suitable temporary partitionbeing drawn transversely across this platform in order to define the limits of the different berths. The only change in the construction of these seat backs is that they are made with soft upholstering on both sides since in my improved construction the outer surface of the back when in its normal position, becomes the upper surface when the back becomes an element of the sleeper construction. These seat backs in my improvement will also be made somewhat wider than is required in the ordinary seats. They are also equipped with simple interlocking devices as heretofore intimated.

The bottoms of the seats form elements of the lower berth, an intermediate, normally concealed, flexible device being drawn out when the berth is prepared, which bridges the space between the two seat cushions, thus forming a continuous lower latform constituting the lower berths, the imits of which are defined by a separating partition which is also normally concealed.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a fragmentary inside elevation of a car equipped with my improvements the bottom of the car being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the intermediate canvas element forming a part of the lower berth structure, the hol low partition in which this element is. normally concealed, being shown in section.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the bottom of the car, and 6 the frame work of the seat. The back 7 of each seat is connected with the frame work by curved links 8 in the usual manner. These seat backs when thrown to the position for forming the upper berth of my improved construction, are connected together by a pin 9 slidably connected with the holder 10 mounted on the edge of one of the backs, the said pin being adapted to enter a socket 12 with which the other back is equipped. In this manner thesaid backs are locked in the horizontal position forming a continuous platform. 1

Within a chamber or recess 13 formed in the Wall of the car, is located a spring roller 14 upon which a strip 15 of canvas is adapted to be rolled, whereby the said canvas'strip is concealed within the partition of the car when not in use. This recess 13 is normally closed by a door 16. This strip may be of any suitable width and when drawn out to define the limits lengthwise of the upper berths, is locked in the adjusted position by means of a pin 17 slidably mounted in the sleeve 18. This sleeve is slotted to allow a projection 19 to slide freely therein for the purpose of adjusting the pin. This pin enters an opening or recess 20 formed in the center of a part 21 a plied to the central portion of the outer on s of the seat backs. When these backs are adjusted to form the upper berths, there is a continuous space underneath the upper platform which may beutilized for forming the lower berth structure. Within a recess or chamber 22 formed in the wall of the car intermediate the seat cushions 23, is located a spring roller 24 suitably journaled and upon which a flexible element 25is adapted to be Wound when not in use.

This element may be composed of canvas or any other suitable material. When it is de sired to make up the lower berths, this strip 25 is drawn out between the two seat cushions 23, and is locked in the adjusted position by means of pins or bolts 26 slidably mounted in a sleeve 27 with which the outer end of the canvas part 25 is provided. These pins or bolts 26 are adapted to enter sockets 37 formed in the frame work of the two adj acent seats. These elements 25 taken in connection with the bottoms or cushions of the seats, constitute the lower berth structure.

Within the recesses 28 formed in the outer wall of the car, are located spring rollers 29 upon which flexible strips 30 are normally wound and concealed. After the lower berth structure is formed, these strips are drawn out of their recesses to define the limits lengthwise of the lower berths. The outer extremity of each strip 30 is provided with asleeve 31 carrying a pin 32 adapted to enter a socket 33 mounted on the frame of the seat.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my im roved sleeping attachment for cars will e readily understood. Assuming that the seat backs are in their normal position, it is only necessary to throw them to the horizontal position and interlock their adjacent edges in the manner heretofore explained. This operation will form the platform or support for the upper berth structure. The doors 16 closing the recesses 13, are then opened and the flexible stri s 15 drawn transversely across the said plat orm, defining the lengthwise limits of the upper berths. The flexible devices 25 are then drawn out between the seat cushions, forming in connection with the latter the lower berth platform. The flexible strips 30 are then drawn transversely across the lower berth platform whereby the lengthwise limits of the lower berths are defined as heretofore explained. In order to return the seat backs and the other apparatus to their normal position, it will only be necessary to reverse the operation heretofore described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a sleeping attachment for cars, the combination with car seats com rising a stationary frame work, seat bac is having a link connection with the said frame work whereby the said backs are adapted to assmile a horizontal position, means for inter-' locking the adjacent edges of the seat backs when in the horizontal position, to form a berth platform, and suitable means transversely arranged for separating the said platform into a number of berths whereby the length of the various berths is defined, substantially as described.

2. A sleeping attachment for cars, comprising in combination with the car, seats rovided with reversible backs whereby the acks while moving from one position to another are made to occupy a horizontal position, the said backs being so arranged that their edges are in interlocking proximity with each other when in the horizontal osition, means for interlocking the said bac (s when in the last named osition to form a continuous platform, an means for se arating the said platform into a number 0' berths, the said means being normally concealed but capable of adjustment for the purpose set forth.

3. A sleeping attachment for cars comprising in combination with the car, seats having reversible backs adapted to assume a horizontal position, means for supporting the said backs in the last named position, the walls of the car being rovided with closed recesses, spring rollers ocated in the said recesses, and flexible devices normally wound on the said rollers and concealed within the recesses, the said flexible devices being adapted to be drawn transversely across the berth platform for defining the lengthwise limits of the various berths, and suitable means for locking the said flexible device in the adjusted position, substantially as described.

4. A sleeping attachment for cars comprising in combination with the car, seats p i'ovided with movable backs, means for supporting the backs in a substantially horizontal position above theseat cushions, the wall of the car being provided intermediate the seat cushions with normally closed recesses, spring rollers located in said recesses and carrying flexible strips adapted to be drawn out between the cushions to fill the intervening space, and form a berth platform, substantially as described.

5. A sleeping attachment for cars comprising in combination with the car, seats having reversible backs, whereby they are adapted to occu )y a horizontal position, means for interlocking the seat backs to form a horizontal upper berth platform, and normally concealed flexible devices adapted to be drawn out between the seat cushions, to fill theintervening space and form the lower berth platform, substantially asdescribed.

6. A sleeping attachment for cars comprising in combination with the car, seats having backs adapted to occupy ahorizontal the last named platform into a number of osition, means for interlocking the said berths, substantially as described. 10

backs when in the last named position, and In testimony whereof I affix my signature normally concealed flexible strips adapted to in presence of two witnesses.

5 be drawn out between the seat cushions to JOSEPH A. SHIRES.

fill the intervening s ace and form a lower berth platform, an normally concealed means adjustably arranged for separating Witnesses DENA NELsc-N, MAY GAWLEY. 

